My 5 Worst Fantasy Football Losses of All-Time

Anyone who has participated in fantasy football has lost games. Some of these memories of heartbreak fade, while others eat at our fantasy football souls years after the the clock reads zero.

In my six-year career of playing the game that we all love—and sometimes hate—I have been the victim of some of the worst losses in fantasy football history.

Yes, that is a fact.

I will go through my top five losses of all-time. This is hard for me to do. I am sure I have blocked out some of the debacles, but these stand out the most.

I hope you enjoy and feel free to talk about some of your fantasy football heartbreak.

Maybe then I won't feel so bad.

#5 Monday Night Meltdown

Date: Monday, December 13, 2010

Teams: Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans

It was the first week of the fantasy football playoffs and I felt great about my team. It was a Monday Night game and I had a semi-comfortable 12-point cushion going into Monday night versus Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub.

I had Billy Cundiff kicking for the Ravens. I knew Johnson could go off, but I could not ask for a better matchup with him going up against Baltimore secondary.

I weathered the storm and had a slim lead going in to the fourth quarter. Baltimore's defense had played fine so far. I knew the chances were slim for me to win, but in fantasy football there is always a chance.

Then a switch went off in Houston.

It all started with a 103-yard kick return for a touchdown by David Reed for the Ravens, essentially taking away a possession for my kicker and giving more time to the Texans' offense. Then Baltimore's defense decided to let Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson run wild.

The Texans scored 15 points, tying the game up and sending it into overtime. But Schaub and Johnson had done their damage and I was eliminated from the playoffs.

This is mild disappointment compared to what you are about to read.

TeamVick 75.94

Team Dominance 105.92

#4 Stat Correction Thursday

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009

Teams: Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants

It was the rare occasion where all of our action was on Sunday so there no Monday night mayhem. I had a very slim lead on my opponent with all his player's games complete and I still had Eli Manning playing.

Eli was being Eli (playing horribly), but it was fine because the rest of my team picked up the slack and I had a 2.5-point lead going into what would end up being the final possession of the game.

Manning then chose to throw an interception, that at the time, I did not think would cost me the game. Not only did he throw a pick, but it was the most ill-advised throw I've ever seen. Ryan Leaf could have mad a better pass blindfolded, left-handed and with a broken finger. There was no pressure and he airmails it right to the defense.

Interceptions in our league counts two points against your overall score, so I went in to the clubhouse with a lead of less than one point and I figured I had squeaked by.

I was wrong, dead wrong.

Monday Night Football passed, the standings updated early Tuesday morning and I had won, or so I thought.

I woke up Thursday morning to check the league standings and I had plummeted in the rankings. At the time I had no clue what happened.

I was livid.

Later I found out my opponent's defense was credited with a sack which was one point and gave the win to him by the slimmest of margins.

Thanks a lot Eli.

Who thought you could lose a game on a Thursday?

TeamVick 112.64

The Electric Company 113.10

#3 Gaffney Robs the Ravens

Date: December 3, 2007

Teams: New England Patriots vs. The Baltimore Ravens

The Patriots were on the road to an almost perfect season.

I was clinging to a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter praying to the fantasy football Gods that Jabar Gaffney did not catch a touchdown pass. The Patriots were down four points late in the game. "Brady's Boys" were inside the 20-yard line and the ONLY play that could beat me was a Jabar Gaffney touchdown.

Keep in mind, he was at best the fourth option on the play.

Throw the ball to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, throw it to the water boy on the sideline, I do not care. Just DO NOT throw it to Jabar Gaffney.

Tom Brady dropped back, scanned the field and found Jabar Gaffney in the end zone for a Patriots' touchdown with 44 seconds left in the game.

But there was a challenge on the play. There was hope.

The ruling on the field stood.

TeamVick 89.90

The Mariuccis 94.34

Final.

#2 the Coin Flip

Date: Monday, October 29, 2007

Teams: Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos

The legend that is Brett Favre made his own stain on my fantasy football career that night. It was week eight on the fantasy football schedule and I was already coming off an embarrassing loss. I was clinging to a two-point lead when the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos went in to overtime.

In my mind it was Brett Favre versus waiver wire wonder Selvin Young.

I knew if the Broncos won the toss I would have a chance at winning the game. A couple runs to Selvin Young. A pass here or there. Field goal. Game over. Even if Green Bay won the toss, I still had a shot as long as Brett Favre was contained.

He wasn't.

On the first play in overtime, Favre found Greg Jennings up the left sideline for an 82-yard bomb to end the game and give me a second loss in what would end as a three-game losing streak.

Greg Jennings had this to say jokingly after the game,"No questions about the last play."

Very funny, but I am not laughing.

TeamVick 96.54

Suga Slammers 108.94

#1 the Kneel Down Game

Date: Monday, December 4, 2006

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles versus Carolina Panthers

There is no bigger stage than Monday Night Football and it was two weeks before the fantasy football playoffs. My playoff hopes hinged on the play of a 36-year-old backup quarterback. I was down 30+ fantasy points with just Jeff Garcia to play.

My goose was cooked. Stick a fork in me. I was done. 

In classic fantasy football jargon I "started him with confidence". And wow it payed off...Jeff Garcia played out of his mind. But it was his final three plays of the game that was ultimately the demise of my young fantasy football dreams.

That night he threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

The Eagles won 27-24 and with less than a minute left, I took the lead 141.32 to 141.24 (a measly .08 margin). I was going crazy. I was throwing stuff around my room and screaming my head off.

Then reality set in—the Eagles were going to knee the ball.

Much to my dismay, Jeff Garcia called the victory formation and kneed the ball three straight plays. Each play counting as -1 rushing yards and subtracting .1 points from my score. 

I did not watch SportsCenter for a week.

TheFloridaBoys 141.02

Primetime Playaz 141.24.